Businesses looking for a few good employees

Thomas Frost of Mohegan Lake, N.Y., left, fills out a job questionaire as Officer Edward Savage of the City of Philadelphia Police Department, right, looks on during the Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Fair held in the Armory at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013.
Mike McMahon — The Record

PFC Ashley Buckbee of Schenectady, left, talks with Lt. Matt Robbens of the Albany Fire Departmentduring the Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Fair held in the Armory at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013.
Mike McMahon — The Record

TROY >> It can be difficult to try and find a job when coming out of the military but veterans were catered to exclusively on Wednesday by local and national businesses looking to hire them.

Several veterans were seen meeting with various businesses at the Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Fair, held at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham on Wednesday. There, veterans met had the opportunity to meet with several recruiters, get job leads, even schedule some interviews.

Many of the veterans looking for jobs were either looking for another job after leaving the military, just coming back from deployment or were recently let go due to the federal government shutdown.

Ryan Wells, who has been in the New York Air National Guard for the past seven years, said he lost his full-time job with the National Guard on Oct. 1 following the shutdown. He decided to come to the fair to see if he could get a job with a good company and felt he could leave with a couple of interviews set up.

Wells was pleased, though, with the fact the companies were willing to meet with veterans and offer them options for employment.

“I think it’s good these companies were willing to take time out of their day to talk to veterans,” Wells said. “It gives hope to some people who are going through some tough times.”

William Barton, who was in the United States Army for three years, actually left the fair with two interviews scheduled with businesses he met at the fair. He said he was not only looking to get into the logistical or customer service industry , but also hoping to get tips on how to build his resume and how to interview with prospective employers.

“Things are fantastic,” Barton said. “It’s a great chance to market myself.”

Many of the companies with booths at the fair said those in the military have already gained a lot of the necessary training to do well in the working world and have been able to pick up various different leadership skills, have discipline and loyalty for what they do.

“A lot of them are well trained people and some have specific training for what we do,” said Bob Hayward, manager of Troy Industrial Solutions, who added his company was looking for people who can service power generator equipment. “We know there are people out there,” Hayward said. “[The military] train [veterans] very well.”

Philadelphia Police Department Officers Ed Savage and Missy Jones came all the way to Latham for the job fair as he said they have gone to various parts of the country looking for veterans to hire.

Events such as these may become more important as Eric Eversole, executive director and vice president of Hiring our Heroes, said there could be a more than 30 percent spike of service members transitioning into the working world with a draw down of troops overseas.

“It’s important to step up and tackle these issues veterans, their spouses and families face,” Eversole said. “We’re bringing the community together with veterans with training to these companies.”

For Maj. Al Phillips, spokesperson for the New York Army National Guard, the job fair represented commitment from the community to help those who have fought for their country. He also said it was important for the New York Army National Guard to do what it can to offer other opportunities for employment with these job fairs.

Phillips also said he believes veterans have a unique quality to them.